With 100% English Ancestry, I thought it might be really difficult to trace my ancestors back in England from Canada. Only my mother, her father and his mother were born in Canada. This Blog will talk about researching my English ancestors from Canada but also the ancestors of our son in law whose families stretch back far into Colonial French Canada. My one name study of Blake and of Pincombe also dominate my blog these days.

Friday, February 24, 2017

Will of Peter Bodkin otherwise Peter Bodkin Blake, Town of Galway, Ireland - The National Archives PROB 11/1232, probated 4 May 1793

Peter Bodkin Blake’s will is below and the remainder of the files are letters that he wrote (annexed as codicils) and reading through them the only comments that prove to be interesting are the references to Sir Walter Blake (10th Baronet). These references do not add anything to my knowledge of the Blake family at Galway. I have only transcribed the original will, one codicil of six and the probate.

There are a number of Bodkin-Blake marriages in the Blake family at Galway.

1 In the Name of God Amen2 I Peter Bodkin commonly called Peter Bodkin Blake of3 the Town of Galway in the Kingdom of Ireland but4 now resident in England Gent do make this my last5 Will and Testament in my own handwriting in6 manner following that is to say Declaring that I7 am a Protestant having duly conformed to that8 Religion in the said Kingdom of Ireland I order9 that my Body may be decently buried in the Parish10 wherever I may die and as to such worldly Substance11 as God has Pleased to bless me with I hereby dispose12 of the same in manner following my just debts13 and Funeral expence being first paid (that is to say) I14 Give unto my Brother Francis Bodkin one shilling I15 give unto William Greny Son to Thomas Greny of16 Greginore in the County of Galway in Ireland deceased17 my Bed and every thing else of mine which shall be18 in my apartment in the said Town of Galway I19 Give unto my Nephew and Niece Nicholas Brown and20 his Sister Jane Brown one shilling each I Give unto21 my two Nephews Ambrose Bodkin and Hyacinth Bodkin22 of Kilbroge in the County of Galway in Ireland one23 hundred pounds each of English money to be paid to24 them respectively without Interest by my Executors herein25 after named at their respective ages of twenty one26 years but not sooner than two years next after my27 decease and I direct that in case either of my said28 two Nephews Ambrose and Hyacinth Bodkin shall29 die before he shall attain the age30 of twenty one years or sooner than two years next31 after my decease the share of him so dying shall go32 to the survivor of them payable also without Interest33 at the age of twenty one years but not sooner than34 two years next after my decease and in case both35 my said Nephews shall die under the said age of36 Twenty one years or sooner than two years next 37 after my decease I do give the said two several sums38 of one hundred and one hundred pounds unto my39 worthy friend William Pollard of St Swithins Lane40 London Merchant to whom I owe infinite obligations for41 the Singular Services he has rendered to me I Give42 unto my said Nephew Hyacinth Bodkin his heirs43 Executors and administrators my two Leasehold houses44 in the West Sabbt of Galway the one in the occupation of45 Bartholomew Kelly and the other in the occupation of46 Thomas Bursee he paying the Rent reserved by and47 performing the covenants on the Tenant or Lessees part48 contained in the Lease under which I hold the same49 I Give unto Mr John Cologan of London Merchant50 one of the Parties in trade with the said William51 Pollard One hundred pounds Sterling to be raised and paid52 to him within two years next after my decease and53 I direct that the said Legacies to my Nephews Ambrose54 and Hyacinth Bodkin and John Cologan amounting55 together to three hundred pounds Sterling shall be56 raised when payable by Sale of One hundred and57 forty two pounds of the Capital Stock of the English58 United East India Company which shall be standing in59 my Name at my decease and the deficiency that may60 be to make up or compleat the said sum of three hundred61 pounds I direct that the same shall be raised out of62 the Dividends of my said East India Stock which shall63 become due after my decease and as to the residue of64 the said East India Stock I direct the same shall continue65 Standing in my Name so long as the said East India66 Company shall exist and that the dividends to arise67 thereby During the life of the said William Pollard68 shall be received by him for his own use and after his69 death the said dividends shall belong to such persons70 as he shall by Will direct and in default of such71 direction to his Executors or Administrators I direct that72 the sum of three per cent Consolidated English Bank73 Annuities which shall be standing in my name at my74 decease shall continue standing therein during the existence75 of the said Fund and that the dividends to arise thereby76 during the life of my good friend Mr James Cooper the77 other partner in trade with the said William Pollard78 shall be received by him the said James Cooper for hi79 own use and after his death the dividends of the said80 Bank Annuities shall belong to such persons as he81 shall by Will direct and in default of such direction then82 to his Executors or Administrators I Give unto my said 83 Nephew Ambrose Bodkin his Executors and Administrators84 a debt due from Richard Martin of Galway or Kentville85 in the County of the Town of Galway aforesaid which86 stand Secured by a Bond and Warrant of Attorney dated87 respectively the Twenty second of January One thousand88 Seven hundred and Eighty one to me for One hundred89 and Twenty three pounds two shillings Sterling with all90 the Interest that may be due thereon at the time of91 my decease and as to all the residue of my Estate and92 Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature93 or kind soever as were real or personal I Give devise94 and Bequeath the same unto the said William95 Pollard his heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns96 and to and for his and their own use and benefit97 and in case the said John Cologan William Pollard98 and James Cooper or any or either of them shall99 refuse or decline to accept of any or either of the100 Legacies and Bequests in this my Will give to101 them as aforesaid then it is my will and desire and102 I do hereby Give and Bequeath such of the said103 Legacies as shall be so refused unto the Treasurer for104 the time being of Greens Hospital to be applied by105 him towards the support of the Seaman belonging to106 the said Hospital and I do hereby constitute and appoint107 the said William Pollard and James Cooper Executors of108 this my Will and in case they shall both refuse109 or decline the Execution of this my Will110 then I appoint the Treasurer for the time being of111 the said Hospital Sole Executor of this my Will112 and revoking all former Wills by me at any time113 heretofore made I do publish and declare this to114 be my last Will and Testament in Witness whereof115 I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Seventh116 day of May One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty117 Seven Peter Bodkin Blake Signed Sealed118 published and Declared by the said Peter Bodkin Blake119 the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in120 the presence of us who in his presence at his request121 and in the presence of each other have thereto set122 our Names as witnesses thereto Iona Thompson123 J[onathan] Bugg Sarah Grant124 Messrs Cologan Pollard and Hooper Galway the 30th May 1791125 Gentleman I received your most esteemed favour of 9th126 July last you insist I should let you know the127 charge on the Bill on Curly It was wrote on the128 protest thereof 6 shillings and 6 pence Irish making 6 [shillings]129 English money with which I debit account I am130 heartily sorry for the death of our mutual very good131 friend Mr John Thompson Tis well he sent you my132 Will previous to his death I am glad you think any133 alteration I Will by Letter make in said will is binding134 according to Law I beg you’l open and read said Will 135 Hyacinth Bodkin ye younger Brother of Ambrose136 Bodkin mentioned in said will died in Dublin in Sep137 last aged about 19 years and a half owing to his folly138 and debauching and his Mother giving him too much139 money tho he had a very strong constitution and the140 older Brother Ambrose Bodkin came of age the 12th141 Feby last who has a weak constitution yet he142 follows as debauched a life as his said Brother143 therefore tis thought he will not live many years144 unfortunately he take pleasure in boasting he can145 bear drinking 3 or 4 bottles of wine after dinner146 which he frequently does Soon after he came of age147 I wrote him a Letter stating how I had a demand148 to his and formerly my deceased Fathers Estate of £500149 pds or by my giving Credit for £200 I received from my150 Father for my age of 17 years to my age of 21 years in small payments in151 that there remained at least 800 pds due to me as152 the remainder of my childs portion this letter was153 delivered to him by my Sister in Law his Mother who154 thought my demand just and reasonable he did not give155 her or to me a satisfactory answer therefore he shall156 get no Legacy by me I hereby order desire and will that157 the two hundred pounds sterling and everything else158 which I willed and ordered for my Nephews Ambrose159 and Hyacinth Bodkin in my said Will be given to Mr160 William Pollard one of the Executors to my said Will161 or to his issue or heirs payable in like manner as I162 had ordered and willed it to be paid to my said163 Nephews Ambrose and Hyacinth Bodkin I beg you’l164 not answer this Letter directed to Galway for fear your165 Letter should be opened by mistake as I would chuse166 to keep this affair secret I intend soon to go to167 Dublin from where I will write in form to Mr168 William Pollard and to Mr James Cooper Executors to169 my said Will I now write you this alteration in my170 said will for fear death or my accedance should 171 happen me in my journey to Dublin I have this172 day drawn a Bill on you at 21 days sight in173 favour of the Right honourable David Larouche and Co for174 £57 pounds which I entreat you’l please to honor175 being on account of one years dividends due to me176 last Xmas on my £512 pds etc India Stock and also on177 my £500 pds Stock in the Bank Consolidated Annuities178 I hope the dividends continued at 8 per cent on the179 India Stock notwithstanding the great War at present180 in the East Indies my next Letter to you or to the181 Executors of my last Will I hope will be soon from Dublin182 In the Interim I am most affectionately Gentleman183 your most obedient humble Servant Peter Bodkin Blake184 P.S. I say the Bill I have drawn on you this Day is 185 for fifty Seven pounds Sterl: Galway the 30th May186 1791 Peter Bodkin Blake187 This Will was proved at London with Six188 Codicils the Fourth day of May in the year of our Lord189 One thousand Seven hundred and Ninety three before the190 Worshipful John Fisher Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the191 Right honorable Sir Willian Wynne Knight and also Doctor of192 Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative193 Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of194 William Pollard and James Cooper Esquires two of the195 Executors named in the Fourth Codicil to whom Administration196 was Granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and197 Credits of the deceased having been first sworn duly to198 administer power reserved of making the like Grant to199 John Cologan Esquire the other Executor named in the200 fourth Codicil when he shall apply for the same